Giving Tuesday is a day of global activism that encourages ordinary people to create positive change through acts of radical generosity–and it can be a powerful opportunity for churches to use when impacting their community.
Giving Tuesday isn’t just about giving money, although that’s a big part of it. It’s also about giving your time and your voice to causes you support. According to GivingTuesday.org, “whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”
What Is Giving Tuesday?
In 2012, Henry Timms, the executive director of 92nd Street Y in New York, partnered with the United Nations Foundation to create Giving Tuesday. What started as a simple idea—to encourage people to do something good in their community or country—has grown into a global movement with hundreds of millions of participants each year.
Giving Tuesday is celebrated each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. After shopping for great deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday serves as a reminder to help those in need. On social media, the hashtag #GivingTuesday, often trends.
How Can Your Church Participate in Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday provides the perfect opportunity for churches to encourage members to rally around a common cause. In a report from the GivingTuesday Data Commons, it is estimated that more than $2.47 billion was raised on Giving Tuesday in 2020. Growth was highest in repeat donors, and small donors significantly increased in number.
Your church can participate in Giving Tuesday by raising money for community outreach, your church building, or missions. You can find additional ideas by downloading GivingTuesday’s Toolkit for Brands.
Like any fundraising campaign, you’ll want to do some planning. Determine your financial goal as well as a theme that ties it all together, and then start spreading the word.
Since Giving Tuesday is an online event, you’ll want to take advantage of your church’s social media pages and recruit your members to share details about your mission and goals. Update your members frequently so they’ll know they’re making an impact.
What Do You Need on Your Website for Giving Tuesday?
Part of preparing for Giving Tuesday is making sure your church website is ready. Update your program pages to include your vision and the impact you want to make and add videos from members that highlight what your church means to them. Then, use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to start spreading the word.
How Can Your ChMS Help?
Of course, a big part of making your Giving Tuesday–or any outreach–a success, is using a Church Management Software (ChMS) system. A ChMS makes it easy for people to donate with online giving that integrates with your accounting package.
People can donate on your church website, through text messaging on their mobile phone, or through your app. With a good ChMS, you can track both new and existing donors and run the reports you need to keep church leadership and your members informed.
Learn how you can further engage your givers with our FREE GivingTuesday toolkit.
To see how your ministry can create a successful online giving program for Giving Tuesday or any occasion that ties to your accounting package and more, get your free trial of SimpleChurch today!
